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Sales of PCs and tablets will rise this year, helping to deliver solid growth across the EMEA region, predicts analyst GfK.
B2C sales are estimated to grow between eight and 11 per cent this year, driven by new touch SKUs and thinner computing devices.
GfK estimates the Western Europe market will grow two per cent in 2014, up from a three per cent decline in 2013, while sales in Central Europe are set to increase three per cent this year, compared to two per cent in 2013.
Software, peripherals and networking products are also estimated to have an average percentage growth of approximately five per cent.
Last year tablets demonstrated growth of 282 per cent.
Dr. Rudi Aunkofer, global research director for IT at GfK, said: “We expect the EMEA market to grow in 2014. Consumers are feeling much better than one year ago – and the economic situation is in significantly better shape.
"Developed markets are turning back to growth but in some markets we’re seeing saturation and customer base not getting larger.
“Touch is a big opportunity in 2014. Ubiquitous usage behaviour is requesting a set of different devices. There will be evolution, not revolution, in potential markets like wearables.
“Some countries are going for smaller tablets and we expect this to continue in 2014. Consumers are looking for new things; innovations will drive the market.”
However, Aunkofer also warned that B2B sales could show little growth in 2014. The EMEA computing market is set to grow between two and six per cent this year.
“B2B demand is expected to become party challenging,” he added, citing the influence of major events.
“With the FIFA World Cup competition this year, B2B sales may fall slightly as people will be thinking about sports rather than B2B products.”
